Baking-iron.



G. N. SMITH.

BAKING IRON. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 2, 1909.

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GEORGE N. SMITH, OF AKRON, OHIO.

BAKING-IRON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Application filed November 2, 1909. SeriaLNo. 525,952.

T 0 all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Baking-Irons, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to cooking irons and the object thereof is toprovide a device for the ready cooking of small portions of food such asHamburg steak or sausage for use in restaurants where quick lunches inthe shape of hot sandwiches are served, and the device is also adaptedfor cooking eggs or other articles.

The invention contemplates providing a cooking iron comprising hingedcompanion members, which under ordinary circumstances, is kept heatedand wherein small portions of food may be quickly prepared.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suitable drain for theiron to carry away the grease or fat exuded from the food during thecooking thereof, said drain conveying the grease or fat away fromdangerous proximity to the flame into a suitable receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to make a strong, safe,simple and effective device capable of accomplishing the fore goingobjects and one in which the number of parts is reduced to a minimum toprovide as effective and perfect an article as possible.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of partsconstituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereofwherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is tobe understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resortedto which come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate like partsin the different figures: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device;and, Fig. 2 a longitudinal, sectional view of the same with portions ofthe handles broken away.

Referring to the drawings, the device embodies an up er member having abody portion 1, preferably provided with a smooth lower face. Projectingfrom the body portion 1 is a handle 3 terminating in an enlarged end 4:,preferably semi-ov0id in form, said handle 3 and its enlarged end bothprovided with a recess 5 to reduce the conduction of heat from the bodyportion 1 of the iron to the handle. Preferably eX- tending from theopposite side of the body portion 1 is a flat lug 6 provided with anenlarged cylindrical end 7 transversely apertured, constituting onemember of a hinge. The cooperating member of the cooking iron comprisesa body portion 8 provided with a handle 9 having an enlarged end 10,said handle 9 and enlarged end 10 constructed similarly to the handle 3.The body portion 8 is further provided with a forwardlyprojecting lug 11having its outer terminus off-set at each end and integral with each ofsaid off-sets is an apertured car 12. The cars 12 are arranged inparallelism with respect to each other and extending between said carsis the enlarged cylindrical end 7 of the lug 6. Extending through theend 7 and the cars 12 is a bolt 13 for connecting the lug 6 to the lug11 and the said cars 12 constitute the other member of the hingehereinbefore referred to. In the upper face of the member 8 is a wideshallow recess 14, inclosed by an upwardly-extending flange 15, theinner wall of which is inwardlyinclined or formed upon curvilinearlines, as shown in the drawings, to remove any chance of a sharp anglebeing formed between the inner wall of the flange and the fioor of therecess into which fat or grease can accumulate. Formed in the upper faceof the lug 11 is a groove 16 of less length than the length of the lugand into which the grease and fat from the recess 14 may pass. Thegroove 16 at its inner end communicates with the recess 1e and at itsouter end opens into a drain pipe 17. The lug 11 at its outer end isprovided with an upwardly-extending threaded aperture communicating withthe bottom of the groove 16. Mounted in this threaded aperture is theupper end of a drain-pipe 17 by which the grease and fat passing fromthe recess 14 into the groove 16 is carried to a suitable receptacle 18,preferably positioned some distance from the flame by which the deviceis heated. When not in use the upper member of the iron is swungdownwardly and the device closed, thus both members of the iron are keptheated for instant use. In use the upper member is raised and the foodto be cooked is placed in the recess 14 and usually smoothed or spreadevenly over the surface thereof, after which the iron is closed.

If the food is of a nature requiring grease to properly cook the same,it is placed in r the recess 14 previous to the placing of the foodtherein. All surplus grease or fat accumulating during the cooking ofthe food is carried outwardly through the groove 16 into the drain 17 tothe receptacle 18. As soon as the food has been placed in the recess 14the upper member is lowered and as this member has been previouslythoroughly heated, the food contained in the recess is cooked with greatrapidity and a desired shape or form is imparted thereto, the ironconstituting to a certain extent a mold for this purpose.

Experience has thoroughly demonstrated that such articles as thinHamburg steaks for use in sandwiches and similar articles of food may becooked in one or two minutes with this device and it may also be usedfor cooking eggs, when if a customer desires an egg turned the uppermember is brought down to close the iron; but if no turning is desired,the egg may be cooked in the recess 14 without closing the iron.

It is not necessary at any time to invert the lower member as it is keptconstantly over a suitable flame to be ready for instant use.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A cooking utensil comprising a pair of members each provided with abody-portion and one adapted to be mounted upon the other and eachformed with a laterally-extending hollow handle section projecting fromits respective body-portion, one of said body-portions having its innerface provided with a shallow recess and the other having its inner faceflat throughout, a lateral lug projecting from said recessedbody-portion and having its upper face provided with a groove of lesslength than the length of the lug and which opens at its inner end intothe recess of the body-portion, apertured ears projecting from the outerterminus of said lug, a lateral lug projecting from the other of thebody-portions and having an enlarged cylindrical end extending betweensaid ears, means for pivotally connecting the ears and cylindrical endtogether, and an outlet means for said groove at the outer end of thelatter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE N. SMITH.

lVitnesses /VM. H. Evans, J12, C. E. HUMPHREY.

